Thanksgiving Weekend at Quarterdeck Cottage

 

We welcomed friends to the cottage for a Thanksgiving Dinner.

The sun shone and the winds abated for their arrival.

The menu was Italian themed and Julie and I cooked in the kitchen while the guys hung out on the deck watching the boats.

I was Julie's sous chef :-))

It is a great day being in the kitchen when Julie cooks 

I Watch and Learn.

Caesar Salad to start...

Julie mixes her dressing (which includes anchovies) directly in the bowl.

Then we added the romaine, croutons and cheese.

Julie also adds bacon which gives it a real zesty flavour!

We made Stanley Tucci's Favourite pasta dish.

On an episode of his series Eating Italy they featured the recipe.

Julie got her recipe from Chef John Pierre who has a You Tube Channel.

The basis of the sauce is deep fried zucchini slices...

it tastes delicious, nutty and thick and you'd never guess it was zucchini!

WOW

I made an apple crisp using our Liberty apples

served it with French Vanilla ice Cream.

The wine we served was Italian from the Tuscany region...

(I had to get Mr. HB to go out to the recycling bin and snap a photo)

We went to the Pender Island Museum...

saw this buck sitting in the sunshine.

Tried to walk at Roseland but the tide was in and so we couldn't get across

the inlet to wander along the scenic trails.

For breakfast the next morning I served a fruit salad and a smoked salmon frittata.

The frittata was simple to make...

Frittata

Sliced small red onion

diced red pepper

sliced 4 large mushrooms

6 ounces smoked salmon cut into small pieces

grated cheeses about 1 1/2 cups

a dozen eggs whisked til frothy

salt pepper and some chopped mint leaves

Bake in a deep dish at 350 for about 40 minutes until eggs are cooked and no longer runny.

Lunch was a charcuterie board...

we call it a "picky plate"

We walked at Hamilton Beach in the rain...

our friends left later in the afternoon before dinner.

I made scallops for dinner...

Chef Jean Pierre's scallop recipe is on his You Tube Channel and online at his website.

Delicious!

Will be reading these books over the next few days...

Am really enjoying The Last Devil to Die!

I love the Thursday Murder Club.

We are fortunate to have a great little boutique on the island.

I always pop in and peruse the stock...

you never know what you'll find!

C'est Moi

White Linen shirt

I found another one in a sleek percale cotton but I couldn't justify buying two...

I love a crisp white shirt to wear with black pants or jeans and my pearls.

Well I suppose that I better get some lunch ready for my husband...

he's out walking in the rain and will be cold and hungry when he returns.

In case you are interested lunch will be bacon and home grown tomato sandwiches on homemade sourdough bread!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Trip to the Mall...an unexpected find

 

The casual outfit I wore to "quickly" run an errand at the mall

would possibly have shocked the Fashion Police!

I went to buy some Nespresso coffee pods.

No, I didn't see George Clooney, (darn) but his picture was hanging in the store.

OOTD

I was wearing:

Eddie Bauer leggings

Lord and Taylor white tunic top 

my thrifted Banana Republic Trench Coat.

(no pearls)

As I was leaving

I passed by the Reitmans store and out of the corner of my eye I spied 

SALE 40% OFF

The store was BUSY!

Obviously others were lured in by that SALE sign.

Took a quick look around and saw this black tweed dress.

I grabbed two sizes and headed to the change room

Tried them on...

I like to try things on to see how they fit, especially "knit" fabric garments.

(probably why I am not a regular online shopper.)

I didn't even take off the leggings!

I wasn't even looking for a new dress but that 40% off persuaded me.

It will be cozy for fall and winter and go with my black tights and Chelsea Boots.

I could belt this dress for a bit more waist definition.

I also have an Eileen Fisher black vest which could work with it too.

I looked at the "rear" view mirror to see how it fit on the derriere.

The larger size was better as it skimmed the curves.

The artisan necklace works well paired with this dress.

This might just be my favourite dress for Fall.

Funny how the unexpected can pop up on my radar...

Suppose the message here is

Always keep your eyes open for opportunities.

You never know unless you try.

I've been to 3 aqua fit classes this week.

My suit has been washed and dried overnight in time for the next class.

As I was leaving the pool this week I saw two adorable teenage girls...

They were dressed in a style that I would call Goth.

Black mesh stockings (ripped) black short skirts, short tops layered over tank tops.

Pink streaks in their dark dyed black hair.

Funky jewelry, big earrings, pendants, bangles.

They were laughing as they ran down the stairs...

such vibrant style and oodles of energy.

(Oh to be Young again!)

I thought to myself that they were having fun with fashion.

They were dressed very similarly so I assumed they might be best friends.

Not exactly fashion twins but they shared the same clothing vibe.

Having fun with fashion is why we take the time to choose clothes that we love.

Wearing items that make us feel good as well as dressing for the season.

We need clothes, so why not wear what makes us feel good?

My blue Tencel tunic top is looking rather sad, 

our cat Chester has pulled quite a few threads in the fabric...

I look at these imperfections and I cringe.

So I am going to drop it in the donation bin.

It doesn't make me feel good.

So why wear it?

Have you visited the shops to see what is on offer?

Are you a minimalist or do you have a closet that doubles as a dressing room?

Have you gone to the thrift shops or the local consignment stores?

So many clothes are available and you can feel good about buying them 

"saving the planet" by buying used pre-worn garments.

There are real bargains to be had in the consignment shops.

We have quite a few great ones here in Victoria and there are fabulous finds just waiting...

Designer garments are often hidden between the many pieces of pedestrian wear.

I look in the mens wear section too...

for crisp striped shirts and cashmere V neck sweaters.

In our local Value Village there are loads and loads of handbags...

many are worn out "pleather" bags but there are real leather gems too.

I've seen stylish shoes too...

A friend found a strand of real cultured pearls for $3.99

I don't know how they passed by the staff pricing the stock

but one never knows what treasures await...

Have you had fun finding any treasures in the thrift shops?

What is your best bargain?

I'd love to hear from you.

The bounty of our tomato harvest continues...

Tomatoes are still being roasted to add to soups and pasta sauces.

(recipe is on the previous post)

Hope that you are enjoying your weekend.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD + Fall Harvest from The Humble Bungalow Garden

 

It's the first day of Fall Today 

So I am getting ready for cooler weather...

Ready to

Welcome Back

My

Black and White Fall and Winter Basics

I have tried wearing bold bright colours in the cooler months

 but I keep going back to black.

Here I am dressed in a super casual OOTD for lunch with my sister and cousins.

I wore things that I have had in my closet for years

Black Yoga pants

Old Navy White Shirt

Eileen Fisher black quilted vest

with

(new this summer)

Tommy Hilfiger Shoes

Black and white is so easy to accessorize...

jewelry, colourful scarves, sweaters.

Think the accessories give this casual OOTD a bit of a lift. 

BIG pearls from Hong Kong and Bold Red Miss Pupa Lipgloss #305

I added my Black Eileen Fisher vest as we were sitting outdoors for our lunch.

We had a yummy lunch at pure Vanilla in Oak Bay.

Food choices are always fresh and there are many healthy options.

There was SO MUCH catching up and chattering 

that it was really HARD to get a word in edgewise!

I hate talking over people so I was rather quiet

I prefer to listen anyways...

My simple style is not fancy, it could not be easier or more basic.

It is honest and works for me.

I own and am attracted to blue denim, chambray and Tencel shirts, dresses and jeans.

Denim played a major role in my teenage wardrobe.

Did it factor into your younger wardrobe too?

If you had told me at 13 that I would still be wearing jeans at 68 

I probably would have laughed, but it is true.

Do you still wear jeans and denim?

I have 3 pairs of jeans, a denim jumper, shirts, a top and a distressed denim jacket.

Keeping a small and simple basic wardrobe makes getting dressed easy.

Too many choices make me dizzy and indecisive.

There are also several LBD's in my closet...

a black and grey tweed skirt 

some black and white tops

sweaters

black dress pants.

Retirement dressing is very casual...

I wear things for comfort and those that are purpose driven.

When I go to the pool for aquafit classes I wear these same Yoga pants.

A cozy warm top and a jacket or sweater depending on the weather.

Marshalls change room!

I seem to gravitate to this store...

SO MANY CHOICES.

Such good value, I like that, as I am on a pension.

I keep track of ALL my wardrobe purchases...new and thrifted.

This quilted barn coat is something that I have wanted for several years.

When I spied it hanging on the rack I grabbed it!

Ralph Lauren is known for their detail on their garments.

I like the snaps and the ability to open the hem.

Might come in handy if I plan to leap any tall buildings :-))

The collar is done in a classic corduroy...

the coat is roomy which I wanted especially for layering in the cold weather.

In case you are wondering...

underneath the coat I am wearing a soft faded light blue Tencel dress and capri tights.

I have just swapped out my summer clothes and put them in the guest room closet.

It is raining here today and boy do we ever need the rain!

This past summer has been riddled with drought conditions and forest fires.

Welcome Fall Weather!

Humble Bungalow Front Porch Fall Decor

dried hydrangeas and mini pumpkins.

The swimsuit that I wear to aqua fit class is starting to stretch out and the seams are looking dodgy.

I have ordered this one from Lands" End and hope that it will fit.

The newer one by Alfred Sung that I purchased early in the season 

is a wrap style with a lower neckline 

so not really suitable for the "bouncing" cardio portion of the class!

It is harvest time here...

Liberty Apples 

first harvest shared with the grandchildren.

Sweet, tasty and small enough for school lunches.

Chehalis green apples

I prefer to cook with these.

(I have an apple pie baking in the oven right now!)

I roasted some of these heirloom Italian Mikado tomatoes for sauces in the Winter.

Roasted Tomatoes

Line a baking tray with parchment paper

Cut Tomatoes into smaller chunks

add pepper and garlic

drizzle with olive oil

bake at 375 for about 40 minutes

Cool

Spoon into Ziploc bags or plastic containers for the freezer.

Hermes scarf and Saint James striped top

worn here under a casual zip jacket.

What clothes are on your radar for Fall? 

(Or Spring depending where you live)

Do you plan to purchase anything new?

I am in the process of cutting and drying some of the hydrangea blooms.

I've been soaking the flower heads in a bucket of cold water for several hours before tying them into bunches for drying.

I hope this works as I tried a bunch without the soaking 

and they shrivelled right up

(see the porch picture)

far too crispy.

Hope you are keeping well and staying safe.

Covid is making a comeback here.

Think I will start wearing my mask again when I go to the grocery store.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Quarterdeck Cottage ~ September Snippets

 

Here at Quarterdeck Cottage we keep things simple.

I am in my casual cottage cooking gear...

Apron

White Tee

Black Yoga pants

Bare feet (with red polish)

It is a cloudy Monday morning so 

I baked the sourdough boule

and

made a Frittata

Today's Frittata Recipe

 7 large eggs beaten

1/3 cup milk (or cream)

1/3 cup chopped pitted black olives 

1 small green pepper diced 

10 cherry tomatoes cut in half 

cup of grated white cheddar cheese

salt and pepper

Place in shallow ovenproof quiche pan

Bake at 350 for approximately 35 minutes.

We brought some green tomatoes with us...

I fried them up for breakfast and served them with worchestershire sauce.

Yesterday

we invited some of the neighbours from the nearby cottages over for a Happy Hour.

It was so lovely that we sat on the deck...

chatting away and laughing

nibbling on the charcuterie offerings

sipping our beverages

time passed and before long it was getting chilly.

We packed up just after 7pm

I finally finished knitting the Miriam sweater...

it is at home and I need to block it before I can wear it.

But I never like to be without my knitting so I went shopping last week!

I started knitting a shawl "River's Wrap"

 in this gorgeous Japanese Noro Akari Yarn

from The Beehive in Victoria.

The yarn is wonderfully soft and so soothing to work with...

silk, cotton, viscose, mohair and wool.

In other shopping news...

Found a wee crystal vessel at the thrift shop in Sidney on Friday 

before we caught the ferry....

There's a bit of magic in the way the light reflects

 in the crisp cut design of a crystal piece.

I foraged some wild dried flowers...

they look so pretty in the vase.

Am smitten with the light!!

The glow is so warm, and it does feel like magic.

On my walk to day I went to Bricky Bay.

In the early 1900's a brick making crew used this area and the beach.

They shipped the bricks off island from the bay, there are remnants of the dock.

Bits of bricks cover the beach and many have worn down and are soft shapes.

Some are small round shapes like marbles...

I managed to find a couple of pieces of sea glass but not much.

I sat on a log and listened to the call of the ravens and the swish of the waves.

Watched a few boats cruise past before pulling myself away from this idyllic spot.

I spied this sunny painted rock.

People paint rocks and leave them on the beaches here...

I usually don't take the rocks, just snap a picture to share on Instagram.

Before I close 

I must share with you a totally unexpected gift from a dear reader Rosemarie, 

who resides in Vancouver.

Rosemarie and I correspond regularly via email

we've met several times for lunch and tea when she visited Victoria

Last time I was in Vancouver we met for a glass of wine and some nibbles at The Cactus Club.

Look at this beautiful kimono style wrap!

She knows me so well...

It will be a welcome addition to my wardrobe.

THANK YOU ROSEMARIE :-))

You are such a generous person.

(I am going to find something to send Rosemarie)

Well I must close for now and go outside with my knitting.

The views are stunning!

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thoughts on gardening....and a tasty pork tenderloin

Our neighbour gave us a pretty bouquet,

the cut flowers are from her new garden.

 A thank you for the fresh garden produce we shared with her.

Gardeners share...

We share seeds, plants, flowers, fruit and produce.

Gardeners collect ideas when visiting other gardens.

Cultivating a garden is an incredibly rewarding hobby.

There is a shared kinship in the gardening community...

If you've ever attended a garden club meeting 

or a garden show you will hear an abundance of chatter.

Gardeners are not at a loss for words where plants are concerned.

I've visited the local garden centres twice in one week looking for more Hostas.

We are going to be involved in a garden tour and I have some plans.

We are not sure if it will be June 2024 or June 2025.

In the meantime,

 I am looking for a water feature, some more black planters and pots.

We'll be putting the garden to bed as soon as the weather changes.

So these ideas will percolate and be revised and refined over the winter.

Romneya Coulteri Poppy

This plant likes to be grown in a rocky gravelly soil.

It doesn't transplant well.

I've tried digging it up and sharing it but the cuttings have never survived.

Our plant is not very large...

I've seen huge Romneya Coulteri plants thriving on my drive around town.

We are pleased that the Hollyhock from Ross Bay Villa has thrived.

I have tried growing Hollyhocks for many years 

but had always planted them in the soil which is heavy with clay.

The clay soil is great for roses but not all plants like to have "wet feet!"

The BIG Hosta to the left is Sum and Substance.

In the low bowl ~

Variegated grass, Hosta, Agapanthus and the silvery Centauria Chrome Fountain.

To the left of that planter is a pot of Black Mondo Grass.

I have a crush on the Mondo Grass and have it growing all over the Humble Bungalow Garden!

David Austin Rose Jude the Obscure.

It has been flowering for months...

it is a repeat bloomer.

The roses have not been as prolific as usual and I am thinking it is the drought.

We've had lots of sunshine which they love and we have watered 

carefully by hand but I suppose it has just not been enough.

There is a bumper crop of tomatoes, both beefsteak and cherry types.

Lots of zucchini, lettuce and cucumbers.

The apple trees are loaded with fruit...

in a few weeks they will be ready for picking.

The garden keeps my husband VERY BUSY!

He's taken over a lot of the jobs and seems to be enjoying his time outdoors.

Do you have a garden?

Or do you garden with a deck or patio of Pots and planters?

We are very fortunate to live in an area where there are lots of gardens.

People are quite passionate about gardening here in Victoria.

It used to be known as The City Of Gardens.

I want to share a recipe that I got from a friend...

it is an easy and very tasty marinated pork tenderloin.

~ PORK TENDERLOIN ~

Marinate a pork tenderloin in the following:

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup soya (I use Braggs)

1 clove minced garlic

3 tbsp. honey dijon mustard

salt and pepper

I mix the marinade in a ziploc bag then add the tenderloin.

Put in the fridge for about 4 hours.

Heat the BBQ and grill the tenderloin

 (baste with marinade) 

cook until it is no longer pink inside.

This cooks quite quickly so keep an eye on it!

Let it rest for a few minutes then slice on the diagonal.

I have served it with boiled baby new potatoes and a fresh green salad.

~ Bon Appetit ~

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

I'm planning a visit to Butchart Gardens soon to see what they are growing.

Until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~